Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the first national tallgrass prairie in the country was established in 1996. The remnant prairie land once housed part of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant is now Midewin. Since the land transfer from the Department of Defense to the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service along with other federal & non-governmental partner manage the restoration of the 19,161 acres of the historical prairie habitat. In 2004 Midewin was opened to the public. Forms of degradation found in Midewin was pasture or cropland from surrounding areas, rusting munition factories and abandoned ammunitions bunkers. The Joliet Ammunition Plant was operated during World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War. It was closed…